Electric pumping apparatus with extendable drawing pipe and pump light tower

ABSTRACT

A pumping apparatus for delivering water upwardly from a holding area and over a holding area bank includes an apparatus base having an apparatus base upper surface; a water drawing pipe including a pipe intake end and a pipe discharge end and being mounted to the apparatus base and extendable from the apparatus base; an impeller rotatably mounted within the drawing pipe discharge end; an impeller motor drivably connected to the impeller at the drawing pipe discharge end; impeller motor power supply structure; and a light tower having a tower mounted end mounted to the apparatus base and a tower free end including a light source structure having at least one light source for delivering light onto the apparatus base, and a tower body extending between the tower mounted end and the tower free end.

FILING HISTORY

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/444,626 filed on Nov. 22, 1999, and a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/971,398 filed on Oct. 5, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of pumping mechanisms. More specifically the present invention relates to a pumping apparatus for drawing water from a low lying holding area and delivering the water upwardly and over the bank of the holding area to any designated receiving area or means. The apparatus includes an apparatus base such as a trailer bed and includes a water drawing pipe having a pipe intake end and having a pipe discharge end containing an impeller drivably connected to an electric motor which receives electric power through an electric cable within an electric cable conduit extending along the drawing pipe from a generator connected to a diesel engine, a deployment and angling cable means which moves the drawing pipe between a retracted position on the apparatus base and a deployed position extending outwardly and angling downwardly from the apparatus base into the water in the given holding area, and a light tower having a tower mounted end mounted to the apparatus base and a tower free end which includes a light source structure having at least one light source for delivering light onto the apparatus base, and a tower body in the form of a tower pole extending between the tower mounted end and the tower free end. The tower body preferably telescopes to selectable lengths and pivots to an upright orientation and to a generally horizontal orientation for apparatus transport and storage.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] There have been water pump assemblies for gathering water from holding areas and delivering the water at a high flow rate to a receiving area. The most notable such pump assembly is U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,677 issued on Sep. 6, 1966 to the present applicant, which functions very effectively, but is limited as to the depth of water it can reach in a holding area.

[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a water pumping apparatus which can reach and gather water in a deep holding area through an extendable water drawing pipe having a distally located, intake end containing an impeller powered by an electric impeller motor, or a hydraulic impeller motor, and which is illuminated at night by a light fixtures mounted on a light tower extending upwardly from the apparatus.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus in which the light tower telescopes to taller and shorter heights and pivots into a generally vertical upright position for use and pivots into a generally horizontal position for compact storage and transport.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus in which, where the impeller motor is an electric motor, the impeller motor is supplied with electric power through a power cable extending from a point proximal to the intake end and extending back along the drawing pipe.

[0009] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, maintain and transport, and which is highly reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.

[0011] A pumping apparatus is provided for delivering water upwardly from a holding area and over a holding area bank, the apparatus including an apparatus base having an apparatus base upper surface; a water drawing pipe including a pipe intake end and a pipe discharge end and being mounted to the apparatus base and extendable from the apparatus base; an impeller rotatably mounted within the drawing pipe discharge end; an impeller motor drivably connected to the impeller at the drawing pipe discharge end; impeller motor power supply structure; and a light tower having a tower mounted end mounted to the apparatus base and a tower free end including a light source structure having at least one light source for delivering light onto the apparatus base, and a tower body extending between the tower mounted end and the tower free end.

[0012] The tower body preferably includes a tower body telescoping structure permitting the tower body to extend in length and to contract in length. The tower body telescoping structure preferably includes an outer telescoping tube connected to and extending from the tower mounted end; an inner telescoping tube slidably fitted into the outer telescoping tube and connected to the tower free end including the light source structure; and a tube interlocking mechanism for releasibly securing the inner telescoping tube at a certain extension out of the outer telescoping tube. The pumping apparatus preferably additionally includes a tower body pivot mechanism pivotally interconnecting the tower mounted end and the tower body so that the tower body is pivotable into a substantially horizontal position for compact apparatus storage and transport, and into an upright, position for casting light during pump apparatus operation after sundown.

[0013] The tower mounted end preferably includes a tower base panel secured to the apparatus base upper surface; a tower base tripod standing upright on and secured to the tower base panel; and a tower mounting tube secured to and extending upwardly from the tower base tripod, the tower mounting tube extending substantially parallel and laterally adjacent to at least part of the outer telescoping tube. The tower body pivot mechanism preferably includes a pivot collar engagingly and encircling the tower body and having an outward radially protruding axle rod passing substantially horizontally through the tower mounting tube so that the tower body is pivotable to an upright orientation and pivotable to a generally horizontal orientation.

[0014] The pumping apparatus preferably additionally includes a tower winch cable reel mounted to the tower mounting tube and an extended length of tower cable wound around the tower winch cable reel and extending and affixed to the inner telescoping tube; so that rotating the tower winch cable reel in a first direction withdraws and shortens the extended length of tower cable, thereby progressively pivoting the tower body upright, and so that rotating the tower winch cable reel in a second direction deploys and lengthens the extended length of tower cable, thereby progressively pivoting the tower body downwardly to its generally horizontal position.

[0015] The pumping apparatus preferably additionally includes a tower body support stand spaced from the tower mounting end, for supporting the tower body in its generally horizontal position. The tower body support stand preferably includes a stand base panel for securing to the apparatus base upper surface and a stand base tripod standing upright on and secured to the stand base panel, and a stand mounting tube secured to and extending upwardly from the stand base tripod, and a spaced apart pair of tower body receiving flanges extending upwardly from the stand mounting tube for receiving between them a segment of the tower body.

[0016] The light source structure preferably includes a light source cross bar secured to and extending across the inner telescoping tube, and a fixture stem extending from the light source cross bar, and a light fixture box having an open box end and mounted to the fixture stem and containing a light source; and electrical fixture wiring extending from the light source within each fixture box out of the fixture box and along the fixture stem to the cross bar, and along the cross bar to the inner telescoping tube where it connects to a common supply cable, and where the common supply cable extends along the tower body, and along the tower mounting tube, to the apparatus base upper surface, and extends along the apparatus base upper surface to an electric power source. The pumping apparatus preferably additionally includes a protective cable tube secured along the outer telescoping tube, where the common supply cable extends through the cable tube. The common supply cable preferably is spring coiled to be resiliently extensible and retractable.

[0017] The drawing pipe extending mechanism moves the drawing pipe between a retracted position on the apparatus base and a deployed position extending outwardly and angling downwardly from the apparatus base into water in a given holding area. The apparatus base preferably includes a flat bed trailer. The drawing pipe extending mechanism preferably includes a winch secured relative to the apparatus base; and a cable connection structure secured to the drawing tube intake end. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a collapsible water discharge hose sealingly secured to the water drawing pipe discharge end and extending over the apparatus base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a first side view of the pumping apparatus showing the water drawing pipe retracted onto the apparatus base, which in this instance is a tractor trailer bed.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a top view of the pumping apparatus of FIG. 1, revealing the light tower in its horizontal position on the far side of the water drawing pipe.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a second side view of the pumping apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the control panel, the diesel engine, the generator and the diesel fuel tank, with the light tower shown in solid lines its upright position and in broken lines in its horizontal position, with the pipe broken away to reveal the impeller and electric motor.

[0022]FIG. 4 is an end view of the pumping apparatus from the water discharge end.

[0023]FIG. 5 is an end view of the pumping apparatus from the holding area end.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a first side view of the pumping apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the water drawing pipe extended from the apparatus base into a low lying water holding area.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a front view of the inventive light tower in its upright position, secured to the apparatus base upper surface.

[0026]FIG. 8 is a side view of the light tower of FIG. 7, shown in solid lines in its upright position and shown in broken lines in its horizontal position.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a close-up, broken away view of the tower body pivot means, including the pivot collar and axle rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0029] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.

First Preferred Embodiment

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a pumping apparatus 10 is disclosed, for drawing water W from a low lying holding area and delivering the water upwardly to and beyond a bank on which apparatus 10 rests to any designated receiving area or means. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,677 issued on Sep. 6, 1966 to the present applicant is incorporated by reference into the present application.

[0031] Apparatus 10 includes an apparatus base 12 such as a trailer bed and includes a water drawing pipe 20 having a pipe intake end 22 and having a pipe discharge end 24 containing an impeller 102 as described and illustrated in parent application Ser. No. 09 ______,______, drivably connected to an electric motor 110 which receives electric power through an electric cable 116 within an electric cable conduit 116 a extending along the drawing pipe 20 from a generator 112 connected to a diesel engine 114, a deployment and angling drawing pipe extending means 30 which moves the drawing pipe 20 between a retracted position on the apparatus base 12 and a deployed position extending outwardly and angling downwardly from the apparatus base 12 into the water in the given holding area, and a light tower 40 having a tower mounted end 42 mounted to the apparatus base 12 and a tower free end 44 which includes a light source structure 50 having at least one light source 52 for delivering light onto the apparatus base 12, and a tower body 46 in the form of a tower pole extending between the tower mounted end 42 and the tower free end 44.

[0032] The tower body 46 preferably includes an outer telescoping tube 62 connected to and extending from the tower mounted end 42 and an inner telescoping tube 64 slidably fitted into the outer telescoping tube 62 and extending and connected to light source structure 50, and tube interlocking means 66 for releasibly securing the inner telescoping tube 64 at a certain extension out of the outer telescoping tube 62. Apparatus 10 preferably still further includes tower body pivot means 70 pivotally interconnecting the tower mounted end 42 and the tower body 46 so that the tower body 46 may be pivoted into a substantially horizontal position over the apparatus base 12 for compact apparatus 10 storage and transport, and into an upright, substantially vertical position for casting light during pump operation after sundown.

[0033] The tower mounted end 42 preferably includes a tower base panel 82 for securing to the apparatus base upper surface 12 a with fasteners and a tower base tripod 84 standing upright on and secured to tower base panel 82 such as by welding, and a tower mounting tube 86 secured to and extending upwardly from the tower base tripod 84. The tower mounting tube 86 preferably extends substantially parallel and laterally adjacent to a segment of outer telescoping tube 62, and the tower body pivot means 70 preferably includes a pivot collar 72 engagingly encircling outer telescoping tube 62 and having an outer radially protruding axle rod 74 passing substantially horizontally through tower mounting tube 86 such that tower body 46 is pivotable to an upright orientation and pivotable to a generally level orientation. To assist in tower body 46 pivoting, a winch cable reel 90 is mounted to tower mounting tube 86 and a winch cable 92 is wound around the reel 90 and extends to a cable engaging element 94 affixed to the upper end of the inner telescoping tube 64, so that rotating the reel 90 in a first direction withdraws and shortens the extended length of cable 92, thereby progressively pivoting the tower body 46 upright, and so that rotating the reel 90 in a second direction deploys and lengthens the extended length of cable 92, thereby progressively pivoting the tower body 46 downwardly to its generally level position.

[0034] A tower body support stand 120 preferably is provided, spaced from the tower mounted end 42, for supporting the tower body 46 in its generally level position. The support stand 120 preferably includes a stand base panel 122 for securing to the apparatus base upper surface 12 a with fasteners and a stand base tripod 124 standing upright on and secured to the stand base panel 122 such as by welding, and a stand mounting tube 126 secured to and extending upwardly from the stand base tripod 124. A spaced apart pair of tower body receiving flanges 128 extend upwardly from stand mounting tube 126 for receiving between them a segment of the tower body 46, which is preferably a segment of the inner telescoping tube 44. A linking strut 132 preferably is secured to and interconnects the upper ends of the tower mounting tube 86 and the stand mounting tube 126 for enhanced structural integrity and strength.

[0035] The light source structure 50 preferably includes a light source cross bar 142 secured to and extending substantially perpendicularly across the free end of the inner telescoping tube 44. An outward fixture stem 144 and an inward fixture stem 146 both preferably extend from each lateral end of the light source cross bar 142, and a light fixture box 148 having an open box end for releasing light is mounted to the free end of each fixture stem 144 and 146 and contains a light source 52 such as an incandescent light bulb and a corresponding socket. Electrical fixture wiring extends from the light source 52 within each fixture box 148 out through a box wiring port and along the given fixture stem 146 or 148 to the cross bar 142, and along the cross bar 142 to the inner telescoping tube 64 where it joins with other fixture wires to form a common supply cable 152. The common supply cable 152 extends along the tower body 46, and along the tower mounting tube 86, to the apparatus base upper surface 12 a, and extends along the apparatus base upper surface 12 a to an electric power source such as a generator 112 or to another cable connection ultimately leading to a power source. A protective cable tube 154 preferably is secured along the outer telescoping tube 62 and the common supply cable 152 extends through the cable tube 154, and the common supply cable 152 preferably is spring coiled much like a telephone receiver cord to be extensible and retractable.

[0036] Drawing pipe extending means 30 preferably includes a winch 176 secured to a mounting structure 174 on the apparatus base 12, a first cable pulley 172, a second cable pulley 178, a cable connection structure 182 on or near the drawing tube intake end 22, and a cable 170 would around the winch and extending over first and second cable pulleys 172 and 178, respectively.

[0037] Apparatus 10 preferably further includes a collapsible water hose 250 secured to the discharge end 24 of the drawing pipe 20, and a water hose spool 252 for receiving and compactly winding the water hose 250. The apparatus base 12 preferably is a truck bed, as indicated above, and has truck bed wheels with tires 18 and hydraulic jacks (not shown) for bearing against the ground G and lifting the truck bed off tires 18 to immobilize apparatus 10 while water is being pumped. A control panel 230 is provided, and a diesel fuel tank 240.

[0038] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended. 

I claim as my invention:
 1. A pumping apparatus for delivering water upwardly from a holding area and over a holding area bank, comprising: an apparatus base having an apparatus base upper surface; a water drawing pipe comprising a pipe intake end and a pipe discharge end and being mounted to said apparatus base and extendable from said apparatus base; an impeller rotatably mounted within said drawing pipe discharge end; an impeller motor drivably connected to said impeller at said drawing pipe discharge end; impeller motor power supply means; and a light tower having a tower mounted end mounted to said apparatus base and a tower free end comprising a light source structure having at least one light source for delivering light onto said apparatus base, and a tower body extending between said tower mounted end and said tower free end.
 2. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tower body comprises tower body telescoping means permitting said tower body to extend in length and to contract in length.
 3. The pumping apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tower body telescoping means comprises: an outer telescoping tube connected to and extending from said tower mounted end; an inner telescoping tube slidably fitted into said outer telescoping tube and connected to said tower free end including said light source structure; and tube interlocking means for releasibly securing said inner telescoping tube at a certain extension out of said outer telescoping tube.
 4. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising tower body pivot means pivotally interconnecting said tower mounted end and said tower body such that said tower body is pivotable into a substantially horizontal position for compact apparatus storage and transport, and into an upright, position for casting light during pump apparatus operation after sundown.
 5. The pumping apparatus of claim 4, wherein said tower mounted end comprises: a tower base panel secured to said apparatus base upper surface; a tower base tripod standing upright on and secured to said tower base panel; and a tower mounting tube secured to and extending upwardly from said tower base tripod, said tower mounting tube extending substantially parallel and laterally adjacent to at least part of said outer telescoping tube.
 6. The pumping apparatus of claim 5, wherein said tower body pivot means comprises: a pivot collar engagingly and encircling said tower body and having an outward radially protruding axle rod passing substantially horizontally through said tower mounting tube such that said tower body is pivotable to an upright orientation and pivotable to a generally horizontal orientation.
 7. The pumping apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising a tower winch cable reel mounted to said tower mounting tube and an extended length of tower cable wound around said tower winch cable reel and extending and affixed to said inner telescoping tube; such that rotating said tower winch cable reel in a first direction withdraws and shortens said extended length of tower cable, thereby progressively pivoting said tower body upright, and such that rotating said tower winch cable reel in a second direction deploys and lengthens said extended length of tower cable, thereby progressively pivoting said tower body downwardly to its generally horizontal position.
 8. The pumping apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising a tower body support stand spaced from said tower mounting end, for supporting said tower body in its generally horizontal position.
 9. The pumping apparatus of claim 8, wherein said tower body support stand comprises a stand base panel for securing to said apparatus base upper surface and a stand base tripod standing upright on and secured to said stand base panel, and a stand mounting tube secured to and extending upwardly from said stand base tripod, and a spaced apart pair of tower body receiving flanges extending upwardly from said stand mounting tube for receiving between them a segment of said tower body.
 10. The pumping apparatus of claim 3, wherein said light source structure comprises a light source cross bar secured to and extending across said inner telescoping tube, and a fixture stem extending from said light source cross bar, and a light fixture box having an open box end and mounted to said fixture stem and containing a light source; and electrical fixture wiring extending from said light source within each said fixture box out of said fixture box and along said fixture stem to said cross bar, and along said cross bar to said inner telescoping tube where it connects to a common supply cable, and wherein said common supply cable extends along said tower body, and along said tower mounting tube, to said apparatus base upper surface, and extends along the apparatus base upper surface to an electric power source.
 11. The pumping apparatus of claim 10, additionally comprising a protective cable tube secured along said outer telescoping tube, wherein said common supply cable extends through said cable tube.
 12. The pumping apparatus of claim 11, wherein said common supply cable is spring coiled to be resiliently extensible and retractable.
 13. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drawing pipe extending means moves said drawing pipe between a retracted position on said apparatus base and a deployed position extending outwardly and angling downwardly from said apparatus base into water in a given holding area.
 14. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus base comprises a flat bed trailer.
 15. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drawing pipe extending means comprises: a winch secured relative to said apparatus base; and a cable connection structure secured to said drawing tube intake end.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a collapsible water discharge hose sealingly secured to said water drawing pipe discharge end and extending over said apparatus base. 